True Love
"May I try something, Mr. Chenault?" Shayla whispered, when it appeared the talks were momentarily at a stalemate.
"Anything is better than nothing," Nicholas grumbled softly for her and Paul's ears only.
Nodding, Shayla began speaking fluent Chinese, addressing her words to the men sitting across from them. They fully understood what she was saying, if their expressions were any indication. Nicholas frowned, wondering what she was saying to them. Whatever it was had their rapt attention. And whatever it was made Mr. Ho Chin not a happy camper. He suddenly spoke up in a loud voice, and Nicholas could tell he was angry about whatever Shayla was saying.
Keeping her voice soft and even, Shayla acknowledged Mr. Ho Chin's comments before turning to address the entire group again. After a few minutes, one of the other Chinese gentlemen began speaking. Shayla nodded, smiling. She glanced over at Nicholas and smiled again. Then she gave a reply to the man.
"What in the world's going on?" Paul had leaned over and whispered the question to Nicholas. "What's she saying to them?"
Nicholas shrugged. "I have no idea. She could be giving away the company, for all I know."
"Aren't you going to stop her?"
"No, I'm going to follow my gut instincts and trust her."
Paul lifted a brow. That might be Nick's inclination, but it sure wasn't his. Although he had pushed for her hiring, she had not worked for the company long enough to develop any sense of loyalty. This was just her second day on the job.
A part of Nicholas, the one ruled strictly by business sense, knew he should try to figure out, as best he could, just what Shayla was saying. But he was too caught up in listening to the sound of her voice as she spoke to the men. He doubted she realized it but her voice sounded soft, husky, and sexy. She might not be aware of it, but every man in the room was.
When the Chinese gentlemen at the table all nodded their heads except for Ho Chin, Nicholas knew he had to know what was going on. Before he could ask, Shayla turned to him. "All right, it's over."
Nicholas frowned, clearly not understanding. "What's over?"
Knowing that a few of the men in the room, Mr. Ho Chin especially, could understand the English language, Shayla chose her words carefully. "The negotiations. Everyone is ready to sign."
Nicholas felt his head spinning. "To close the deal?" he asked, incredulous.
"Yes."
He shook his head, clearly dazed. "But how? Why? What did you say to get them to change their minds?"
Shayla reached across the table and captured Nicholas's hand in hers. To everyone observing, it was definitely not a businesslike gesture. Nicholas lifted his eyebrows, wondering what she was doing. Instead of pulling his hand back, as he had an inclination to do, he decided to let it stay put. According to her earlier announcement, the deal was about to be closed. Somehow she had placed the ball back in their court, so he was willing to let her continue to play it as she saw fit.
"I explained things to them, Nicholas," she said softly, meeting his eyes.
"What things?" Nicholas asked, still not comprehending. The look in her eyes pleaded with him to pretend that he did, and he hadn't missed her calling him by his first name.
"I explained why you had turned down Mr. Ming's invitation to the dinner party Friday night."
Nicholas lifted another brow. He knew why he had turned down the man's invitation to dinner-he intended to be on a plane headed back to the States on Friday. "Really? And just what did you explain to them?"
"I explained that you and I had made personal plans, and that you thought you would be disappointing me if you were to break them. However, in light of everything, I assured Mr. Ming that we would be honored to change our plans and attend the dinner party at his home."
She smiled tentatively at him, staring into his eyes. "Trust me on this one, sweetheart."
Nicholas blinked at her term of endearment. He then met her stare head-on. "I am, darling."
As if grateful for that, Shayla released his hand and turned her attention back to the gentlemen and gave them a smile that made all of them blush, except Mr. Ho Chin. She then placed the documents to be signed in front of them. Each of them signed, even Mr. Ho Chin, although he did it grudgingly. Nicholas was more than anxious to put his own signature on the paper.
With the business concluded, the men stood and walked out, leaving only Shayla, Nicholas, and Paul in the room. When Nicholas was sure the gentlemen were inside the closed elevator and couldn't possibly hear a thing, he turned to Shayla. "What the hell was that about?"
Shayla let out a deep sigh as she began gathering up the papers from the table. "That, Mr. Chenault, was about saving face. When Mr. Ming invited you to a dinner party at his home Friday night, you turned him down, not realizing the repercussions."
Nicholas frowned. Before he could ask the question, Paul did. "What's wrong with not going to the man's house for dinner?"
Shayla met Paul's inquisitive gaze. "Everything. In China, an individual's reputation and social standing are based on the complex concept of saving face. By turning down a dinner invitation to a Chinese associate's home, you can cause that individual to lose face simply because you're not available, or evidently think he's not important enough for you to make yourself available. To save face for him, as well as for yourself, if you can't accept the invitation you must apologize for not being able to do so, then propose an alternative plan that is palatable to the person who extended the invitation. Although you apologized for not being able to attend the function, you did not offer an alternative solution."
Nicholas shrugged. "I didn't know."
"Evidently you didn't, and your lack of knowledge was what Mr. Ho Chin was using to get the others to back out of the deal. He was trying to make it seem that you had intentionally delivered Mr. Ming an insult. He was carrying it a little bit further, too, by claiming you had no knowledge of their culture, and it would not be wise to do business with your company."
"So what did you tell them?" Nicholas asked quietly, trying to absorb it all.
"When I saw what Mr. Ho Chin was trying to do, I simply explained to the other men that you and I had recently gotten engaged, and that you wanted to get back to the States to look for a ring. That way I made them think that love had caused your thoughtlessness, not intentional rudeness."
Nicholas looked at her for the longest time, not saying anything. Paul, he noticed, had covered his mouth to smother his laughter. "Let me get this straight. You told them you and I are engaged? To be married?"
Shayla shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other under Nicholas's intense stare. "Yes. I had no choice. I could have told them you were in a hurry to get to some other woman back in the States, but that would not have soothed them. They had met me and were impressed with my command of their language and customs and culture. They figured that as your future wife, I would make up for what you lack. And when I told them we would change our plans and attend the dinner party, that clinched things and took the wind out of Mr. Ho Chin's sails. Without any other argument, he had to go along with everyone and sign the papers."
"You seem to have understood the situation well," Paul said, clearly impressed.
"I did. Believe it or not, most Asians credit blacks with understanding their culture better than whites, especially in the field of literature. They feel we're quicker to understand and appreciate the value of their writing, and take it more seriously. Howard University has a history of publishing books by Asian-American authors."
Both Nicholas and Paul nodded at what Shayla had told them. After taking it all in, Nicholas couldn't keep from beaming. He was more than happy that the Ling Deal was closed, and was extremely happy that Shayla's ingenious thinking had pushed things through.
"I'm curious as to what they'll think when the two of you don't get married," Paul said, still clearly amused.
Shayla met Paul's grin. "They'll think nothing of it. They're aware that Americans break engagements all the time."
She then turned her attention back to Nicholas. "I hope your remaining in this country for another day won't pose a problem for you, Mr. Chenault-or for your significant other back in the States."
Nicholas raised an eyebrow as he looked at Shayla, remembering he'd posed the same question to her last night at dinner. He drew in a shuddering breath when her questioning eyes met his. His lips tilted into a smile, and she felt the intensity of his gaze. "I don't have a significant other back in the States, Shayla. But it seems I do have a fiancée while I'm here in China, doesn't it?"
Chapter 6
Nicholas declared that Chenault Electronics had cause to celebrate, and invited Shayla and Paul to dine with him.
Shayla made an excuse as to why she couldn't go. The last thing she wanted was to be in Paul Dunlap's company for any long period of time. The man was too observant for her peace of mind. Besides, she needed to think things through, to understand why she had intentionally blown her golden opportunity to ruin Chenault Electronics.
"You have to come, Ms. Kirkland. What if I run into any of those gentlemen again? What will I tell them if they inquire about my fiancée?" Nicholas asked, a teasing grin touching his lips.
"Tell them I had a headache and decided to go to bed early."
Nicholas's smile immediately vanished. "Are you not feeling well?"
Shayla shook her head. "I'm just extremely tired. It's been a long and tense day. If the two of you don't mind, I prefer to go back to my room and order room service."
Nicholas nodded, concerned. "Is there anything I can get for you before Paul and I go out?"
"No, I'll be fine. I hope you enjoy your evening." With that said, she gathered her purse and walked out of the meeting room.
After taking a nap Shayla felt somewhat better, but the feeling that she had let her mother down by not keeping her promise weighed heavily on her. Feeling the need to talk to someone, she placed a long-distance call to her aunt.
"Aunt Callie, I failed. I had the chance to do it, and didn't."
"Oh, sweetheart, I'm glad you didn't."
"But I still want to. I owe it to Mama. I feel I let her down by not taking the opportunity I had."
"Now you listen to me, Shayla Glenn Kirkland. Don't you dare try convincing yourself that Eva would want you to embark on this madness. Your mother was a loving and forgiving woman. I refuse to believe that sometime in her life she didn't forgive everyone involved with what happened to her back then. She and Glenn loved you very much, and no matter what, they'll always be proud of you. They wouldn't want you involved with what you're intent on doing to Chenault and TJ Electronics. Take my advice and catch the next plane back to the States."
Shayla wiped the tears from her eyes. "I can't. I have to stay here for the party on Friday. They think Nicholas and I are engaged."
"What are you talking about, Shayla? Who thinks that?"
Shayla took a long shaky breath. "It's a long story, and I can't explain it right now, but we'll talk when I get back."
"And when will that be?"
"Nicholas and I'll be flying out late Saturday or early Sunday."
"Shayla, sweetheart, get out of this mess while you can, before you get hurt."
Shayla glanced up at her reflection in the mirror above the desk where she sat. Her hair looked a mess, and her eyes were slightly swollen from crying. "I'm fine, really I am. I just needed to talk. But, Aunt Callie, nothing's changed. There'll be another opportunity."
"Shayla, listen to-"
"Goodbye, Aunt Callie. I love you." Shayla hung up. She knew her aunt didn't understand, but then, she had not been the one to read her mother's diary. She had not been the one to feel her pain.
Shayla stood and was about to run the water for her bath when there was a knock on the door. She walked over and looked through the peephole. It was Nicholas, and he was dressed to go out for the evening. She was not ready to see him right then, and decided not to answer the door. If she didn't answer, he would assume she was asleep. She backed away from the door when he knocked again. After a few moments, the knocking stopped, and she knew he had gone away.
Going into the bathroom she began running water for her bath. After adding a generous amount of bubble bath, she began removing her clothes. Knowing there wouldn't be any fantasies of Nicholas awaiting her in the tub, as there had been last night, she stepped into the hot bubbly water and sat down. Leaning against the back of the tub, she closed her eyes. As she'd told her aunt, she would have another opportunity to ruin Chenault. The next time, she would not be such a weakling.
When Nicholas returned from dinner with Paul, he looked across the lobby at Shayla's door, wondering if she was feeling better. Knowing it was too late to check on her, he entered his own room. Although he hated admitting it, he had missed her at dinner. Last night he had greatly enjoyed her company. She had looked so beautiful sitting across from him at the dinner table. And then today, when she had walked into the meeting room, all gazes had turned her way. He had been just as spellbound as the other men in the room. With her striking beauty, he was beginning to accept she had that effect on most men. And he had to grudgingly admit that she was the first woman who'd had that sort of effect on him. It seemed Shayla Kirkland was a first for him in a lot of ways. Paul had been right. He had felt a moment of primitive male possessiveness, and had not liked the idea of other men finding her as desirable as he did.
He began preparing for his bath, adjusting the water temperature. He removed his clothes while the tub began filling nicely with warm water. He felt good about what had transpired today. Finalizing that deal would keep Chenault Electronics on top, and would assure that the dynamics were in place when he revolutionized the mangolid chip.
Stepping into the tub, he lowered his body into the water and leaned back against it. Because of his height, he was grateful that the huge tub provided more leg room than most. He closed his eyes, and an image of Shayla immediately formed in his mind. He saw her as he wanted to see her-in his bed, without any clothes, in his arms, with the hardness of him inside of her, while she shuddered with the force of her climax, triggering his own.
Nicholas knew it was too dangerous to have such thoughts of a woman he barely knew. He tried switching his thoughts elsewhere, deciding that as soon as his bath was over he would place a call to Sterling, Jake, and Kyle. As his financial backers, the three men would want to have their own celebration, and no doubt they would do so with the women in their lives.
Nicholas wondered how his niece was doing. She was only a little over a month old, but she ruled the Hamilton household. Sterling and his wife, Colby, were overjoyed with their daughter. A part of him envied their happiness. Just being around them made him want to believe in the power of true love. He hoped to find a woman who would be his soul mate, who would give him children to continue the Chenault dynasty, but he was in no hurry for that to happen. He could very well sit tight and not become a family man for another five to six years, maybe more. When he was ready to become a father, he hoped that he and his wife would have at least two. He had been Alan and Angeline Chenault's only child, and he'd missed not having a sibling while growing up. He had not found out about Sterling until he was thirty. Since then he and his brother had made up for lost time, and were forging a very special and solid relationship. Sterling, Colby, and his niece, Chandler, were a few of the people whom he allowed to invade his space.
Nicholas tried clearing his mind of thought. He just wanted to relax in the tub with his eyes closed and think about nothing or no one in particular.
After a few minutes he gave up trying.
It seemed there was one person whom he could not stop thinking about no matter how much he tried.
Shayla.
Paul Dunlap tried to keep his concentration on the television screen, and it wasn't working. For some reason, he could not get Shayla Kirkland out of his mind. There was something disturbing about her, and it had started the moment she had been introduced to him. Although she had taken his hand in a firm handshake, she had paused for a quick second. The hesitation had been so fleeting he doubted Nicholas had noticed it, but he sure had, and it had thrown him. Why would someone who was meeting him for the first time feel…what? Intimidation? Wariness? Anger? Immediate dislike? Then there had been her smile. He had picked up on the effort she had put behind it, and the sudden stiffness of her posture and the cutting edge of her gaze when Nicholas had said his name.
Why?
He shook his head. Although there was something about her that looked familiar, he was certain they had never met before. And that was really confusing him.
Paul couldn't help the rueful smile that suddenly touched his lips. One thing was for certain-she was doing a lot more than just confusing Nick. The woman tied him in knots. He was smitten with her big-time, and didn't even know it. Nick had been working extremely hard since Alan's death, and it was time he got interested in something other than microchips. He needed a life outside Chenault Electronics. It was interesting to watch him lose his grip on being in absolute control, and it was long overdue.
It seemed that Shayla Kirkland was going to be good for Nick. She was going to be good for the company, too. She had single-handedly convinced those Chinese gentlemen to honor the terms of the Ling Deal. The woman was almost too good to be true.
And, Paul thought, that was what had him worried. In his line of business he had discovered that anything that seemed too good to be true usually wasn't.
He shook his head. Maybe at his advancing age his overly cautious mind was working overtime. Yeah, that had to be it. Other than her initial reaction to him, there was nothing noteworthy about Shayla Kirkland…other than her astounding beauty. He would let Nick concentrate on that aspect of her. He seemed determined to do that, anyway.
Paul couldn't help grinning. It would be entertaining to watch Nick behave like a smitten nitwit for the first time in his life.
Shayla heard Nicholas call her name just seconds before she was about to enter the elevator. She had hoped she would not see him at all today. That had been the main reason she had risen early, ordered room service for breakfast, and gotten dressed. She was determined to spend a day at the upscale shopping mall that was just an elevator ride away from the hotel.
She forced herself to turn toward the sound of his voice, then wished she hadn't. She swallowed against a suddenly dry throat when her gaze settled on him. He was dressed for a workout in the health club in a pair of running shorts and tank top. His solidly built body and masculine presence were more overpowering than anything she'd ever been up against. To say the man had a nice body would be an understatement. Just looking at him made her feel trembly, hot, and bothered.
"Are you feeling better today, Ms. Kirkland?" Nicholas asked, easing into the confined compartment with her and then watching the door close on them. He punched the button for the floor where the health club was located after she had made her selection.
"Yes, thanks for asking." Although the elevator was roomy enough for both of them, she was very conscious of Nicholas's closeness. He was standing so near to her that when she looked up she thought she could see her reflection in the shining gold of his eyes.
"So, what do you plan to do today?" he asked. His voice, she thought, sounded too sexy for early in the morning.
"Shopping. I plan to do a lot of shopping today. Unless, of course, you need me for something."
"No, no. You deserve the day off. I'm taking it off, too."
Forcing herself to breathe evenly, she replied, "All right." Although she was looking straight ahead, she felt Nicholas's gaze move slowly over her hair, her face, and her mouth. Heat swept through her when she realized his gaze had stopped at her mouth and settled there. That wouldn't have been so bad if he hadn't been standing so close. The musky manly scent of him was engulfing her and making every part of her body acutely aware of his presence.
"Will you have dinner with me this evening?" he asked in a husky whisper.
Shayla drew in a deep breath. She didn't dare look at him. She couldn't. But then, she couldn't turn down his invitation. She convinced herself that going out to dinner with him was all part of her plan. "Yes, I will."
She all but gulped in a huge surge of air when the elevator suddenly came to a stop. It was her floor, and she couldn't get off fast enough.
"I hope you enjoy your day of shopping," Nicholas said when she stepped out. "I'll come to your room to get you around seven."
Without looking back she tossed the words, "Thanks. I'll be ready," over her shoulder and kept walking.
He couldn't believe he had asked her to dinner.
When the elevator closed, Nicholas shook his head in disbelief. Just that morning he had made up his mind that until he and Shayla had to put in an appearance together at Mr. Ming's dinner party tomorrow night, he would avoid her like the plague.
He sighed in exasperation. So much for having made up his mind about anything. It seemed that when it came to Shayla Kirkland he had little, if any, resolve. And that wasn't good. Over the years he had made it a point not to get romantically involved with any of his employees, but since meeting her that was all he'd thought of doing. He thought of her all the time, and he hadn't known he could be so imaginative.
When the elevator came to a stop, Nicholas stepped out. The health club was really a high-tech gym that combined the convenience and state-of-the-art fitness equipment with traditional Asian hospitality.
He glanced around the facility and saw Paul. The older man was hard at work on the treadmill, running in place at top speed. Nicholas couldn't help but admire Paul's devotion to staying in shape. He thought he looked good for his age, and wondered why he'd never married, though he did date occasionally.
Nicholas had been in the club for almost an hour before Paul had the chance to take time from his vigorous exercise routine and come over to join him in the sauna.
"So what are your plans today?" Paul asked him as he leaned against the wall. The expression on his face indicated he thought the steam felt good after his strenuous exertions.
"I'm planning to take it easy. What about you?"
"The same. I checked in with Jacksonville and Chicago this morning. Things are okay, so I guess Stockard hasn't driven anyone crazy yet."
Nicholas nodded. Carl Stockard, one of the security men, wanted to be Paul's replacement when he retired. To Paul's way of thinking, the young man of twenty-seven was too eager to do a good job and impress Nicholas. If left up to Stockard, everyone on Nicholas's payroll would be under suspicion of wrongdoing. "He does take his job seriously, doesn't he?"
"Too blasted serious, if you ask me." Paul snorted. "I just wish he'd slow down and think things through before he acts."
Nicholas shook his head. He knew Paul would find fault with any man who was eager to replace him. Paul was used to doing things a certain way-not always by the book. Often he went by his gut feelings. Carl Stockard operated altogether differently, often before fully thinking things through. "If you feel he's not up to snuff, why don't you consider putting off leaving next year? Give yourself another couple of years to groom him."